Industry a Check to Grief – Charles Spurgeon

JOHN BRIGHT, who married young, lost his wife shortly after marriage. He went to Leamington, where Cobden visited him, and found him bowed down by grief. “Come with me,” said Cobden, “and we will never rest until we abolish the Corn Laws.” Bright arose from his great sorrow, girded his loins to work side by side with his friend, and thus found consolation for his terrible loss. How often would deep despondencies and heavy glooms be chased away if an all-absorbing love to Jesus, and a fiery zeal for his honor burned within our bosoms. One fire puts out another, and a grander agony of soul quenches all other grief. The hands of holy industry pluck the canker of grief from the heart, and shed a shower of heavenly dew, which makes the believer, like the rose, pour forth a sweet perfume of holy joy. As quaint old Fuller says, “A divine blessing is always invisibly breathed on painful and lawful diligence.” The clappers of sacred industry drive away the evil birds of melancholy and despair.